Dalton Knecht was dazzling for much of the day, looking like the prospect NBA teams are projecting as a lottery pick. Tennessee leaned on the All-America wing even more than usual, with a Final Four bid at stake. Knecht delivered more than he didn’t against Purdue.
Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht walks off the court atfter the second half of an Elite Eight college basketball game against Purdue in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Detroit. Purdue center Zach Edey blocks a basket attempt by Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht during the second half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Detroit.
Knecht finished with 37 points on 14-of-31 shooting, making half of his 12 attempts from deep and 3 of 4 free throws. “I don’t think I put the team on my back,” he said. “I think we all carried each other. ... At the end of the day, they were just the better team.”as the Northern Colorado transfer and former junior college player drove to the basket with Tennessee down five and 33 seconds remaining.
Tennessee matched the longest NCAA Tournament run in school history and fell a win short of its first trip to the Final Four, just as 2010 team did in a one-point loss to Michigan State. Rick Barnes, the Vols’ 69-year-old coach, came up just short of his second appearance in college basketball’s season-ending showcase and first since leading Texas to the national semifinals in 2003.
Jonas Aidoo was held scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting and Zakai Zeigler missed 9 of 12 shots and scored nine points.Lage has been the Michigan Associated Press Sports Editor since 2000, serving as a beat writer for eight teams in pro and college. He has covered the Winter Olympics four times, most recently as the ski jumping and Nordic combined writer at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games.
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